Joanna Farrow - Author

About the Author

Joanna Farrow loves having fun with her food, having given cakes and cookies a whole new look in Dress Your Cake and Dress Your Gingerbread. A home economist and food writer, she has also contributed to numerous food magazines and has written a number of other titles, including Ready Steady Cook for Kids, Good Fast Family Food and Cake.

Featured books by Joanna Farrow

Peek-a-boo cakes are all about fun, and this little book of sweet surprises is full of ideas for unforgettable celebrations. Surprise and delight your family and guests with these delicious treats, which can be cut open to reveal a burst of colour or a distinctive shape - the perfect birthday gesture for friends or loved ones. This recipe collection boasts a range of inventive takes on this brilliant idea, with great suggestions for occasion cakes - try the Treasure Trove for a pirate birthday party, and the Christmas Snow cake for a gorgeous festive centrepiece. Innovative design aside, you'll be savouring delectable flavours in cakes like the Pistachio, Raspberry and White Chocolate Chequerboard and Carrot and Coconut Battenberg.

A beloved ingredient in Japan for generations, matcha is a powdered green tea that is rich in nutrients and antioxidants, and gives a slow-release caffeine boost through the day. From smoothies to salads, main meals to munchies, there's more to matcha than just another cup of tea. Learn how to use it to flavour rice, in sauces, as a marinade, in frostings and so much more. Try Rack of Lamb with a Matcha Crust, snack on great Green Granola or treat yourself to a Pistachio & Sultana Green Tea Cake and discover the benefits of this miracle ingredient and how to truly make the most of it.

Super Grains is a stylish guide to the nutritional benefits of different grains, with culinary advice, recipe ideas, complementary flavour combinations and inventive ways to cook with these often overlooked ingredients. Eat healthily by eating well. Learn how certain spices can deepen and enhance the flavours of different grains, and be inspired by clever combinations of ingredients to make grains the centrepiece of your meal. 'Super' grains are loosely defined as being less refined and therefore more pure than those treated with pesticides, fertilisers, irrigation and other forms of modern farming. They include quinoa, millet, buckwheat, spelt, wild rice and many other nutritious staples. Experiment with healthy risottos, muffins and burgers made from grains. Feast on a guilt-free split pea stew, richly flavored with Ethiopian spices. Grains are used in cuisines around the world and learning how to cook with these staples is a great introduction to exciting new dishes and flavours. Recipes cover breakfasts, lunches, mains, salads, sides and desserts and come with top tips for making meals more filling while reducing your calorie and carb intake.

Bake it Better: Patisserie & Pastries includes everything you need to know about baking delicious and beautiful pastries. Whether you are new to baking and looking for simple, easy recipes or a more confident baker seeking to refine your skills, with The Great British Bake Off you can be sure you're getting scrumptious and tried-and-tested recipes. The recipes themselves include classics and modern bakes, from simple to more challenging showstoppers -Bake it Better will take you a journey from first timer to star baker. There are expert tips about ingredients, equipment and techniques, with easy-to-follow step-by-step photographs. The Great British Bake Off: Bake It Better are the 'go to' cookery books which give you all the recipes and baking know-how in one easy-to-navigate series.

Whether you're planning a party to watch the latest episode, need a showstopping cake that's bigger on the inside, or want a taste of the TARDIS at teatime, this is the ultimate collection of dishes from across space and time. Keep the munchies at bay with a fleet of Atraxi Snax, and serve an Ood Head Bread with your dinner. Create your very own Picnic at Asgard, or invite the Zygon Pie into your house. And say `Hello, Sweetie' to a deadly-delicious Dalektable Army, a Peek-a-Boo Pandorica cake, or some simple jelly babies. Each easy-to-follow recipe has step-by-step instructions to show how you can make meals, snacks, cakes and sweets that are truly out of this world.

This book is a must for kids and grown-ups alike. Each cookie has been specially created for children to enjoy, but the fabulous ideas are guaranteed to bring out the childish streak in most adults, too. Try really easy, no-fuss recipes such as No-bake Chocolate Crispy Cookies, brightTree Cookies and pretty pink Sugared Hearts. Or create the perfect party table with fun and frivolous ideas such as Gingerbread Houses, Fruity Shortbread Fingers and a Giant Birthday Cookie. The clear step-by-step instructions are perfect for aspiring young cooks too. Whether you want to increase your cookie repertoire, or help your child to learn how to bake, then this is the book for you.

This book gives information on the origins of smoke-curing, the basic smoking processes, raw materials, equipment and storage. In addition there are 25 recipes for meat, game, fish and shellfish.These days, home smoking and curing food is all about creating the best possible flavours. Surprisingly, preserving food is quite simple and all it takes is some basic equipment and a degree of organization. This practical guide reveals the ways to retain the subtle flavours of fresh produce by smoking, from simple smoked salmon to more unusual ideas such as smoked mussels or smoked sausages. With informative text, clear instructions and charming illustrations throughout, this will be an invaluable guide for anyone looking to create their own cured and smoked products.

This book offers 150 delectable ideas for cooking with herbs, shown in over 500 photographs. It is a fabulous collection of appetizing herb-infused dishes to make, with ideas for satisfying soups and snacks, light lunches, everyday meals, and gourmet desserts. It includes recipes for herbal teas and tisanes, refreshing cordials and drinks, sweet and sour pickles and preserves, and aromatic oils and vinegars, as well as ideas for adding herbs to cheeses, butter, sauces and dips. You can pep up your cooking with herby ideas for unusual breads and pizzas, ice creams and desserts, warming soups and summer salads, risottos and rice dishes, meat and fish main courses, and tasty vegetarian options. Chopped, torn, snipped, shredded and sprinkled, herbs enliven food, complementing and enhancing the taste, and permeating the whole dish with fragrance. This book shows you how to grow and use herbs, with step-by-step instructions on planting a herb garden, and information on drying and storing herbs, as well as preparing them for culinary use. More than 150 appetizing recipes include Mushroom and Parsley Soup, Sardines with Warm Herb Salsa, Turkey Escalopes with Lemon and Sage, Red Onion and Rosemary Focaccia, and Lavender Cake. With contemporary ideas, as well as best-loved classics, this inspirational cookbook has something for every occasion.

How to make the most of your ice cream machine, including techniques, ingredients, and a wide range of innovative treats? Simple ways to create fabulous iced desserts, with more than 80 recipes shown step by step in over 550 photographs. Inspiring stage-by-stage pictures and an image of each finished dish makes it easy to achieve success every time. Recipes range from simple sorbets to luxurious ice creams, as well as cream-free, low-fat, low-sugar options. A comprehensive introduction covers the history of ice cream, equipment, ingredients and techniques, and ideas for sauces, toppings and decorations. Choose from traditional treats, such as Classic Vanilla Ice Cream or Classic Coffee Ice Cream, or try original new ideas, such as Apple Crumble Ice Cream or Ginger and Kiwi Sorbet. Ice creams and iced desserts make ideal sweet treats at any time of the year. From a simple scoop in a cone to refreshing sorbets and tangy granitas, this book contains everything you need to know to create delicious ice creams in your own home, with any kind of ice cream machine. An informative introduction contains the history of ice cream and ice cream machines, a guide to equipment and ingredients, and step-by-step techniques such as layering, rippling and marbling. More than 80 stunning recipes range from classic ice creams, sorbets and water ices to innovative modern variations. Choose from Cookies and Cream Ice Cream, Triple Chocolate Terrine, Banana Gelato, Raspberry Sherbet, or Cinnamon Ricotta Ice with Toasted Granola. Illustrated with more than 550 stunning photographs, this book shows how fun, easy and satisfying it is to make tasty ice cream at home.

This title offers fresh recipes for fitness, detox and raw power. This title presents fantastically fresh ways to serve up vegetable vitality in a glass, from healthy detox juices to delectable fruit-and-vegetable fusions or classic coolers. You can energize first thing with Carrot and Ginger Crush or Fennel Fusion, and enjoy daytime delights including Ruby Roots, Mixed Salad Soother or Avocado Cleanser. You can relax at night with chilled-out treats such as Spicy Bloody Mary, Cinnamon Squash or Cucumber, Kiwi and Stem Ginger Spritzer. It offers full advice on choosing and preparing ingredients, and how to use different juicing and blending equipment, plus expert tips on boosting nutritional value, maximizing taste and serving drinks with style. 150 photographs accompany the step-by-step techniques. Nutritional information is provided for every drink. With juice bars springing up on every corner, it seems the demand for all-natural, high-energy drinks has never been greater. Raw vegetable juices score highly for being low in sugar and packed with nutrients. Amazingly versatile, these blends can be made from almost any vegetable you can think of. This superb collection makes the very best of a wide variety of vegetables, from tomatoes, carrots and squashes to fresh greens and shoots. Leafy herbs and spices add taste and zing, while firmed-bodied fruits and the odd squeeze of citrus make perfect partners for many of the vegetables. There are ideas here for breakfast boosters, midday medleys and inspired evening blends. Some of these classic coolers will make excellent non-alcoholic alternatives for dinner parties and outdoor gatherings. Step-by-step techniques are accompanied by 150 photographs, and there are plenty of tips and variations to help and inspire you.

This title features 75 irresistible recipes for blended drinks, shown step by step in more than 300 stunning photographs. This is a fabulous collection of recipes for shakes and smoothies, from healthy breakfast pick-me-ups and exotic coolers to creamy smoothies and luxurious liquid desserts. Vibrant photography illustrates every recipe, with over 300 pictures, including stage-by-stage images and glorious finished images to help you achieve stunning results. Step-by-step sequences throughout show all the techniques and preparation stages, and provide easy-to-follow instructions for guaranteed success. It offers smoothie recipes for every occasion, from healthy to indulgent treats: try wheatgerm Vitality Juice, Immune Zoom, Espresso Crush or Death by Chocolate. Essential information is included on the nutritional benefits of ingredients and how they can be used to boost health and wellbeing. Fresh blended drinks have a seductive appeal - they look fantastic, smell wonderful and taste delicious. They are also quick and easy to prepare, and they can be made with almost any combination of ingredients. Filled with fresh, new ideas, this book introduces creative drinks of all kinds, including health boosters, breakfast wake-ups, vital veggies, fruit coolers and luxurious dessert blends. It opens with an essential guide to ingredients and techniques. There follows a superb collection of 75 smoothies and shakes, from a zesty Citrus Tingler to a relaxing White Chocolate and Hazelnut Cream. Recipes are inspired by every corner of the globe, including Turkish Delight, Tropical Calm and the Latin American Green Devil.

This title lets you explore the delicious versatility of gingerbread in 24 delightful projects. It features 24 beautiful, traditional and innovative gingerbread projects which are easy to make and fun to decorate for both adults and children. A glossary of techniques, simple recipes and step-by-step instructions make constructing gingerbread cottages and castles easy and fun. It includes ideas such as Christmas tree cookies, a gingerbread Noah's Ark complete with animals, a Hansel and Gretel cottage, steam train, fairy-tale castle, rocking horses and much much more. It features over 150 pictures, including photographs of every finished project and how-to images of the design stages. This charming book is a must for cake decorators, craftspeople and children of all ages. Gingerbread is deliciously tasty, fun and very versatile; there are light and dark gingerbreads, chocolate varieties and even gingerbread laden with fruits, nuts and candies. All are employed in this wonderful book, which is bursting with design and decorating ideas for Christmas and all-year celebrations. This creative collection of gingerbread castles, animals, cottages and cakes can be adapted for Christmas, birthday parties and as gifts for children and adults. As well as basic, traditional gingerbread recipes there are 24 wonderful projects to make, including Christmas tree cookies, a steam train, a rocking horse, an embellished elephant and much more. Whether decorated with piped icing, gold leaf paint or festooned with tiny candies, the projects taste as delicious as they look.

This is an indispensable guide to preparing meat, from sourcing and seasoning to boning and carving, with over 50 delicious recipes. If you have ever found yourself in a butchers' shop feeling overwhelmed at the variety of cuts of meat, then this is the book for you. Cooking meat doesn't have to be difficult if you are well prepared and have a few essential techniques mastered. The book begins with a detailed look at the various cuts of meat available with invaluable advice on sourcing and choosing ingredients. A comprehensive techniques section follows covering essential skills such as slicing, carving and de-boning and seasoning. Once the basics have been mastered, choose from 50 mouthwatering yet simple recipes, each clearly explained with step-by-step photography and text. Cookery School: Meat is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their skills in the kitchen and understand more about where the food we eat comes from.

This title offers 150 delicious recipes shown in 300 beautiful photographs. It is a stunning collection of ice cream recipes from all around the world, to suit all tastes, to make both by hand and in an ice cream machine. Every conceivable type of ice cream is covered, including classics such as vanilla, chocolate, coffee, toffee, rum and raisin, along with irresistible new combinations, such as peach and almond, gooseberry and elderflower, rosemary, star anise, chilli, basil and saffron. It features a guide to all the equipment, techniques and essential ingredients, and how to create delectable accompaniments such as sauces, cones and cookies. It offers clear easy-to-follow recipes, beautifully illustrated throughout with 300 photographs to ensure perfect results every time. It includes a nutritional breakdown for every recipe. Ice cream is impossible to resist, whatever your age and for every occasion. Cooks and chefs across the world have spent hundreds of years perfecting every possible way of delighting our tastebuds with delicious ices. Whether you want a cooling Raspberry Sherbet or Watermelon Granita; a tempting Passion Fruit Mousse or Hot Apple Ice Cream with Cinnamon Bread to finish off a dinner party; or an Apricot Parfait or Nougat Ice Cream just for the sheer indulgence, you will find it in this book. A guide provides information on how to layer and ripple, use moulds of different shapes and sizes, and how to make your own baskets, cones, cookies and ice bowls, as well as describing the dazzling ingredients you can use.

A definitive step-by-step guide to making ice creams, sorbets, granitas and iced desserts, in 800 photographs. It contains recipes for all the classic ice creams, such as vanilla, chocolate, raspberry, toffee, coffee, and rum and raisin, and also ideas for delicious new combinations of ingredients such as exotic mango and passion fruit gelato. You can discover how to make a wealth of elegant iced desserts, unusual hot puddings, and a range of refreshing iced drinks.

The traditional art of preserving is enjoying renewed popularity and this timely book includes everything both aspiring and experienced preservers need to know to get perfect results every time. Following detailed advice on choosing the right ingredients and equipment, the 100 delicious sweet and savoury recipes cover every kind of preserve for every time of year, from jams, pickles and chutneys to sauces, cheeses and cordials. The scrumptious recipes include traditional preserves such as Gooseberry and Elderflower Jam, Damson Cheese and Chilli Tomato Chutney as well as the more adventurous Oven Dried Tomatoes in Fennel Oil, Cherry and Almond Ratafia and Syrupy Poached Kumquats. From vodka and gin to curds and butters, there really is something here for everyone.

This book features over 80 sensational recipes for cold delights and frozen creations. It contains everything from ice creams and sumptuous gateaux to bombes, terrines and simple sorbets; and a detailed introduction illustrating all the basic ingredients, techniques and processed, including cook's hints and tips throughout. It includes more than 360 colour images: recipes are shown in easy-to-follow step-by-step photography, with a gorgeous picture of every finished dish. Try irresistible fruit, herb, spice and flower ice cream combinations, gorgeous hot puddings with melting ice cream centres, and light and refreshing iced drinks that are perfect for instant entertaining. Amazing Iced Desserts contains over 80 recipes that will have friends and family clamouring for second helpings. For special occasions, there are fabulous bombes, tortes and gateaux, which look stunning and taste divine, but are surprisingly simple to make. There are also wonderful, quick ideas for simple, elegant desserts that make the most of clever presentation. Ice cream can be scooped into glasses and topped with a sweet glossy sauce, wrapped in heart-shaped chocolate cases or mixed with fruit, herbs and spices - even flowers - to produce colourful and irresistible results. Beautifully photographed with over 360 colour images throughout, including step-by-step sequences to illustrate all the techniques, this book will appeal to food lovers everywhere.

This book presents over 400 fabulous dishes requiring only three or four ingredients illustrated by over 1500 stunning colour step-by-step photographs. It simplifies shopping, cuts preparation time, and is perfect for the modern cook who loves good food but has less time to spend making it. It provides a practical introduction to minimalist cooking, with advice on choosing ingredients and tips on how to achieve maximum taste. It includes recipes for every type of occasion - breakfasts and brunches, light lunches and midweek family meals, relaxed al fresco dining, elegant entertaining and sumptuous desserts. Perfect for today's busy modern cook, this book shows how to achieve maximum flavour with minimum effort. Every recipe tastes sensational but requires just three or four ingredients, saving money and saving time on planning, shopping and preparation. There is something suitable for all occasions, and each recipe has easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions to ensure perfect results every time. A nutritional breakdown of every recipe is also included, so you can plan meals for any kind of diet. Quick dishes include stuffed baby squash, or chicken scallops with lemon and Serrano ham. For those with a sweet tooth, there are four chapters filled with indulgent delights such as passion fruit creams. Beautifully photographed with over 1500 step-by-step pictures, this is the only cookbook for anyone who demands superb results, but wants to spend less money in the supermarket and less time in the kitchen.

Even people who never normally bake cakes find themselves reaching for the icing when it comes to children's parties. With busy cooks in mind, Joanna Farrow has devised this collection of 35 cakes which offer something to appeal to most children - and will not take days to create. From a toadstool cake for younger children to sporty cakes and animal characters for the older age group, all the recipes are accompanied by clear instructions, templates where necessary and step-by-step photographs which make the cakes superbly easy to create, even for complete baking novices.